16. Daisy #2
“Eleven,” he says. “Last time I saw you was at your dad’s funeral.”
“Ah.” I nod like the memory is too old to hurt anymore, but my throat closes just the same.
“I’m sorry I wasn’t around more afterward,” he says, casting me a guilty look. “I was halfway through veterinarian school at the time, and my schedule was hectic…” He grimaces. “But that’s no excuse. I should’ve made a better effort. I’m sorry.”
I wave it off. “We all grew up, right? We all had our lives to live, and I was out of here not long after. I wouldn’t have been here to see you anyway.”
“Right, but now you’re home.”
I don’t mean to sigh. “Yep. Now I’m home.”
“Are you not happy about that?”
“No, I am.” I hitch Chardonneigh to a post before leading Emmett into the stable. “It’s just… complicated.”
He hums quietly. “Life usually is.”
Emmett retrieves a folder of notes, and together, we agree on the checks, vaccinations, and tests due today. I leave him to it while I untack and groom Chardonneigh, and when she’s ready for the vet, I shadow Emmett while he goes through the motions.
“So, how’s the family?” I ask.
“Good.” He loops his stethoscope around his neck and pulls a flashlight from his bag. “Mom and Dad still run Emberfield almost entirely on their own. I help out where I can, but most of my time is spent at my practice in town.”
“That’s wonderful,” I say. “What about Knox?”
Emmett huffs a laugh as he continues examining Chardonneigh. “My big brother gets grumpier by the day, but it’s only because he works too much. He helps Mom and Dad manage Emberfield plus he runs a restoration business on the side.”
“Nice,” I say. “And Noah? Still saving the world one kitten in a tree at a time?”
Emmett’s face drops. “Yeah, he is, but uh. Not sure if you heard… Noah lost his wife a little while back. He’s got two young daughters. It’s just the three of them now.”
A pang lances my chest. “I didn’t know. I’m sorry.”
“Thank you. He’s doing okay.”
I nod, knowing that losing a parent—and a partner—requires more words and less at the same time. “And the twins,” I say. “How are they?”
Emmett smiles. “Piper runs a bakery in town, and Josie’s bookstore is right next door. They’re a power pair, those two.”
“I miss them,” I say wistfully.
“You should call,” he says. “Or better yet, come by sometime. Everyone would love to see you.”
“Thanks,” I say. “Maybe I will.”
We make small talk while he works, and I lose track of time catching up on ten years of history. Emmett is smart, self-deprecating, and has an understated sense of humor, so he’s easy to be around, and it’s nice to be reminded of who I used to be, even if it’s only for an afternoon.
“So, how’s Brooke?” I ask when he’s done and we’re walking back to his truck.
Brooke is Emmett’s wife. They’ve been together since they were fourteen and are the textbook definition of “high school sweethearts get their happily ever after.” I’ve avoided mentioning his wife until now, knowing that asking Emmett about his relationship would invite questions about mine, and I didn’t want to ruin the afternoon by getting into it.
“She’s, uh… fine,” he says, then glances down at his clothes. He’s splashed with mud and horse saliva and other substances that shall remain nameless. “And I’m a mess.”
“Occupational hazard?” I ask with a laugh.
He huffs a laugh. “You could say that.”
I lean on the truck as Emmett hands me his glasses.
“Hold these for me, would you?” he asks.
I take them, then watch with appreciation as he peels the offending fabric off his body. He’s muscular from hard work rather than the gym, tanned, with toned arms, a flat stomach, and deceptively broad shoulders.
“Who knew all of that was under there?” I tease when he’s half naked.
He flushes as he returns his glasses to his nose, then digs around in the back of the cab for a clean shirt. “Give it a rest.”
His shyness is too sweet. “You’re like Superman. Nerdy veterinarian by day. Secretly hot husband by night.”
He scoffs and pulls out a shirt. “Don’t be ridiculous.”
“Are you squirming, Doctor?” I chuckle and poke his side until I hit a ticklish spot. “Am I making you uncomfortable?”
He swats me away with a laugh. “Quit it!”
I don’t realize we’re not alone until someone clears his throat behind us.
I cut off mid-laugh and spin around. It’s Beau, and there’s a judgmental kind of annoyance in his dark eyes. Good. Let him feel frustrated for once.
“Where’s Ollie?” I ask.
“He’s taking a break,” Beau says, tipping his head toward a large tree between the stable and the barn house. Ollie’s sprawled out in its shade, sipping on a juice box and scribbling in his sketch pad.
I set a hand on Emmett’s bare upper arm, which is completely unnecessary. Beau glances at it, and his eyes tighten at the corners. It makes my blood race.
“This is Dr. Emmett Montgomery,” I say. “Emmett, this is our stable hand, Beau.”
Emmett offers him a hand. “Nice to meet you.”
“Likewise,” Beau grunts.
“Emmett’s parents own Emberfield,” I say, then turn to Emmett like the thought just occurred to me. “Your dad hired Beau to start there in the fall. So if you think about it, you’re kind of Beau’s new boss.”
“Oh, yeah?” Emmett looks at Beau with new appreciation, T-shirt dangling, forgotten in his hand. “Well, welcome aboard. We’ll be glad to have you.”
“Yeah.” Beau’s eyes cut to me as agitation plays across his mouth. “Thanks.”
There’s an awkward silence as I stare Beau down, daring him to take it further.
Emmett shifts beside me. “Well, I’m done for the day,” he says as he pulls his shirt over his head. “I’ll try to come by again before my locum wraps.”
“Or how about a drink?” I suggest. “Maybe dinner? My best friend’s mom owns the bar in town, and she makes the best sangria.”
“Sure.” Emmett accepts my offer with a smile. “Let me know when you’re free, and I’ll be there.”
“I’ll text you.”
Emmett nods politely to Beau before he slides behind the wheel of his truck, and Beau returns it with a short dip of his chin. Once my old friend is gone, the energy shifts, and I almost vibrate with tension.
“What was that?” Beau asks, moving closer.
I cross my arms and keep my place even though it means craning my neck to look up at him. “I don’t know what you mean.”
His mouth twitches up at one side. “You know exactly what I mean.”
He’s so close, so large, so intimately overwhelming that warmth floods the aching spot between my legs. My pulse races with memories as I open my eyes as wide as they’ll go.
“You mean Emmett? He’s a family friend. I’ve known him all my life.”
Beau huffs. “Right.”
“And he’s married.” I roll my eyes to the sky, like Beau’s being entirely unreasonable. “If I didn’t know better, I’d think you were jealous.”
His mouth twitches again, but underneath his stormy eyes, I’m not sure if it’s amusement or irritation.
“You want to know how I feel when I see you with another man?” he asks.
My heart skips a beat, and my breath catches. “How?”
“Insane,” he murmurs. His gaze burns so brightly that I can’t look away, and he moves a step closer. “Destroyed. And so fucking jealous. I’ll hate any man you ever date because they’re not me.”
“They’re not you?” I almost spit, suddenly as angry as he is. “And whose fault is that?”
His jaw feathers and his eyes narrow. “We’re not having this conversation, Daisy.”
I cross my arms and glare up at him. “Why not?”
“Because who you date stopped being my business when I asked you to choose me—and you didn’t.”
My throat constricts, and I need a moment to work moisture into my mouth again. “I never said no.”
His shoulders fall, and the fire in his eyes dims. “You never said yes.”
He stalks away, leaving me behind to think about a certain question I still haven’t answered.